Bloomington, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – It’s a reverse trade mission – the Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting foreign grain buyers, bussing them around the state.

2025, though, hits different.

“To be blunt, it’s a pretty tough mission right now with the climate we have around the current federal tariffs,” said ag director Jerry Costello (pictured). “People from China are on this particular mission. We know the Chinese have yet to buy a single delivery of soybeans from the United States. Last year the state of Illinois alone exported $1.4 billion worth of soybeans to China.”

Why fly halfway around the world when it’s cheaper to Zoom? “Definitely, having the exposure of dealing with a different culture with the producers, visiting the farms and the elevators,” said Egyptian soybean buyer Amr Eissa, “I think is an added value. Definitely much better than having a Zoom meeting.”

Costello said the 2024 tour resulted in about $159 million in trade, up $30 million from the year before.